Next Action Star, Episode 10: And the Winners Are…

It’s down to the wire (literally, in one case) as the Final Four — Jared, Sean, Jeanne, and Corinne — compete in their final screen test before the big decision is made.

The episode starts with “Previously on Next Action Star.” In other words, “Here’s the stuff from the lost episode that we just didn’t feel like showing.” Jeanne is stuck working with Jared and shakes her head in disgust. She even tells him in so many words, “I do not want to be playing across from you.” Then once Mélisande has been told that she and John have been eliminated, she decides to go out with a bang and whispers in Jared’s ear, “Is this a bad time to tell you that I love you?”

KA-BOOM! That sound you hear is a bomb being dropped. Talk about convenient timing. Mélisande had nine weeks to declare her love for Jared and she does it 10 minutes before she leaves the mansion? It’s not like Mélisande just realized she has feelings for Jared. Everyone knows how they feel about each other, and has known for a long time. I think Mélisande just doesn’t want Jared to forget her once she’s gone. I don’t deny that she’s probably in love with Jared, but the timing of this confession just raises all sorts of questions.

The last screen test is called “Score to Settle.” A special agent (Sam) has been taken hostage by terrorists…” It’s now up to Sam’s partner to execute a daring rescue which involves a lot of Matrix-style fighting and action.

Sean says he didn’t expect to make it this far, and Jared says he feels honored to be one of the Final Four. To his credit, we finally get the old Jared again – the likeable guy we first saw in the earlier episodes of the show who wasn’t obnoxious.

The finalists go to Eric Chen’s National Wushu Training Center for their last training session, which culminates in the last time-trial challenge. Acting as the unofficial narrator for the last time, Sean tells us about this challenge. The Final Four have to complete an obstacle course that involves climbing a ladder, throwing some punches and doing some kicks, crawling on a mat under some poles, a few more punches and kicks, a running jump that turns into a summersault, coming down a flight of stairs, jumping off the stairs and landing on a mat. The finalist who does this in the fastest time gets a power lunch with the Next Action Star movie’s director Louis Morneau and its producer Alan Schechter, who also happen to be 2/3 of the judging panel that will make the final call as to who will become the Next Action Stars.

Corinne finishes in 29.32 seconds. Jeanne finishes in 36.12 seconds. Maybe that’s because, as she admits, she’s burned out and tired. Sean makes remarkably good time, obliterating Corinne’s record and coming in at 28.18 seconds. Jared is simultaneously impressed and intimidated at Sean’s speed, unsure if he’ll be able to perform quicker. However, if there’s one thing we’ve seen with Jared over the past nine weeks it’s that he’s super competitive and when it comes to a competition, he never gives up. True to form, Jared pushes himself to the limit and comes out shining with a blazingly fast time of 26.57 seconds, winning the Hollywood power lunch.

Jeanne thinks it’s unfair, although we aren’t privy to her reasoning. Like a good sportsman, Sean says he could learn a thing or two from Jared because when Jared tries for something, he really goes all out to get it.

At lunch, Jared asks for some specifics about the plot of the movie, and Louis obliges (somewhat). For more details about the plot, read the Mystery of the Missing Contestantsarticle. Jared says that he and Sean bring different things to their roles, which is an indirect way of asking “so what specifically do you like about me?” Louis says that Jared has a “terrific edge,” and that they like him a lot and he’s impressed them all. Alan asks him if he’s had time to consider what would happen if he were to win, to which Jared responds, “I try to win everything.” Gee, Jared, could you be a little more vague next time? Once Jared has left, Louis and Alan discuss how Jared has “really come around” and how he’s managed to “save himself from certain annihilation on the show.”

Back at the mansion that night, the finalists are just kicking back and relaxing. Jared and Sean are tossing a football back and forth… until Jared learns first-hand why pro football players wear cups in their nether regions when playing football. Yeah, that’s right. Sean throws a football that hits Jared right in the privates. Of course, Sean rushes over to help Jared and even playfully puts a table tennis racket in Jared’s hand and uses Jared’s hand to hit himself on the head repeatedly. Sean swears he hit Jared in the stomach. Whatever you say, Sean.

It’s time for another Fine acting lesson (excuse the bad pun). Howard congratulates the Final Four on making it this far. He then pairs up the finalists in “every imaginable combination” (which sounds a lot more impressive than “four different pairs”) to see who works best together. I think it’s safe to say the Jeanne and Jared aren’t going to win any awards in that category any time soon.

Jeanne says that she has trouble rehearsing with Sean, but they eventually work well together. Howard tells them, “If the relationship is strong, that affects all the dynamics of the interchange between the two of you.

Normally, this would be the time when the casting card is awarded, but Howard says they all did so well today that he needs more time to decide who deserves it and will let host Tina Malave know before role selection. As Jared says, ”Hmmm…the plot thickens.” 1 2 3 Next-->



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